Sen. Cramer Secures Expanded Sunflower Crop Insurance From USDA

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 -- Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release on Dec. 1, 2021:

At the request of U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced today they will be allowing sunflower enterprise and optional units to be insured by type under the sunflower crop insurance system.

In September, the senator led the North Dakota and South Dakota delegations on a letter to RMA urging them to improve the sunflower crop insurance system by allowing enterprise units to be insured by type. RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger responded to the letter stating the RMA's intent to implement the changes requested.

"I am glad to see the Risk Management Agency plans to make this change for the 2022 crop year. As we have seen in recent years, producers frequently face unpredictable weather and growing conditions. Crop insurance provides much needed certainty, and making this change improves the risk management tools available to sunflower producers," said Senator Cramer.

"I am glad to announce this new flexibility for sunflower growers. We spent a considerable amount of time reviewing and analyzing this request from sunflowers growers and are excited to announce this change for the 2022 crop year," said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger.

North Dakota and South Dakota are the two leading states for sunflower production, which accounted for approximately 84% of production in 2020. The National Sunflower Association, headquartered in Mandan, North Dakota, issued a statement reacting to the response from the RMA.

"Having enterprise units by sunflower type will strengthen coverage options and increase consistency, clarity, and flexibility, making crop insurance a better risk management tool for sunflower producers. We greatly appreciate the support of the North Dakota and South Dakota congressional delegations in obtaining this important change to the sunflower crop insurance program," said National Sunflower Association Executive Director John Sandbakken.